New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisimp 284’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisimp 284’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, rounded and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching and freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliage; and dark green-colored leaves.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fisimp 284.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fisimp 284’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new moderately compact Impatiens cultivars that flower relatively early with large rounded flowers and attractive flower colors.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross made by the Inventor in July, 1997 of the Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Prepona, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,150, or seed, parent with the Impatiens hawkeri cultivar BFP-523 Deep Red, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,521, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Fisimp 284 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal in March, 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in Moncarapacho, Portugal, since March, 1998, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fisimp 284’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fisimp 284’ as a new and distinct Impatiens cultivar:

1. Outwardly spreading, rounded and uniformly mounded plant habit.

2. Freely branching and freely flowering habit.

3. Large rounded red purple-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliage.

4. Dark green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Prepona. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Prepona in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker green-colored leaves than plants of the cultivar Prepona.

2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were red purple in color whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar Prepona were red in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar BFP-523 Deep Red. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar BFP-523 Deep Red in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact and denser than plants of the cultivar BFP-523 Deep Red.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger leaves than plants of the cultivar BFP-523 Deep Red.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were red purple in color whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar BFP-523 Deep Red were dark red in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Balcebwium, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,618. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Balcebwium in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens were taller, rounder and more uniform in plant habit than plants of the cultivar Balcebwium.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more vigorous than plants of the cultivar Balcebwium.

3. Flower color of plants of the new Impatiens as more blue and not as red as flower color of plants of the cultivar Balcebwium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fisimp 284’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Fisimp 284 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, under commercial practice in a greenhouse. Rooted young plants were planted in 17.5-cm containers during the spring and the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were taken during the summer about 17 weeks later. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21 to 24° C. and night temperatures were about 17 to 18° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botancial classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fisimp 284.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Prepona, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,150.

Male parent.—Impatiens hawkeri cultivar BFP-523 Deep Red, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,521.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 8 to 9 days at 24° C. Winter: About 10 days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 15 days at 24° C. Winter: About 18 days at 21° C.

Root description.—Numerous, fibrous, and freely branching; 159A in color.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Outwardly spreading, low, rounded and uniformly mounded plant growth habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering. Moderately vigorous.

Crop time.—From a rooted cutting, about 10 to 11 weeks are required to produce finished flowering plants in 12-cm containers.

Plant height.—About 19.7 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 53.3 cm.

Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About 10. Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm. Internode length: About 4 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 143C; overlain with 179A at nodes.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Primarily in whorls. Length: About 14.4 cm. Width: About 4.9 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Serrulate with ciliation. Texture: Smooth, somewhat rugose; glabrous. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 143A. Young foliage, lower surface: 139C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A to 139A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 137C. Venation, upper surface: 145B; towards base, 48B. Venation, lower surface: 145A. Petiole: Length: About 3.75 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Upper surface: 47D. Lower surface: 145A.

Flower description:

Flower type and flowering habit.—Single; large rounded red purple-colored flowers; flat to slightly cupped. Freely and continuously flowering; usually about 7 to 9 flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage and typically face parallel to the leaf canopy. Petals not persistent; gynoecium persistent. Flowers not fragrant

Flower longevity.—Flowers last about 8 to 9 days on the plant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. Plants begin flowering about 9 to 9.5 weeks after planting.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 61B.

Flower length.—About 6.6 cm.

Flower width.—About 5.8 cm.

Flower depth.—About 1.25 cm.

Petals.—Quantity: Five per flower, imbricate. Length: Banner petals: About 3.1 cm. Lateral and base petals: About 3.3 cm. Width: Banner petal: About 4.7 cm. Lateral and base petals: About 3.7 cm. Shape: Roughly cordate. Apex: Retuse to emarginate; shallow lobes. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Flat to slightly cupped. Texture: Smooth; satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: Between 66A and 74A. When opening, lower surface: 61B. Fully opened, upper surface: Closest to 74A; color fading towards 74B with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: 61B.

Spur.—Quantity: One per flower. Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: At apex: About 0.5 mm. At flower: About 3 mm. Aspect: Curved. Color: 53A to 53B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Angle: Strong, flexible Angle: About 45° from the lateral branch. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 181B.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five fused at anthers, hooded; filaments free. Anther length: About 5.5 mm. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther color: 53B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 8D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 4.5 mm. Stigma color: 18D. Style color: 18D. Ovary: Five-celled. Ovary color: Initially 143A, becoming 141A with development.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisimp 284’, as illustrated and described. 